http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,68756,00.html
I'm not trying to start drama in this thread, as this isn't commentary on the devolution of society down south, but a good perspective on why it affected us so much.
Significant is the last quote, from a Jamaican disaster relief specialist:
"We always have resource constraints," she said. "That's not a problem the U.S. has. But because they have the resources, they may not pay enough attention to preparedness and awareness, and to educating the public how to help themselves."